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| The OC Register is reporting that Angels' manager Mike Scioscia met with closer Brian Fuentes before Sunday's game to discuss his role with the team. Fuentes has a 6.23 ERA in September, but Scioscia told Fuentes he wll remain the team's closer. |
Our View: Fuentes was lights-out for most of the season, but he has struggled badly as of late. He should be able to work through this funk, so expect him to rebound.
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| Brian Fuentes nailed down his 24th save of the season in Sunday's 9-6 win over Baltimore at Angel Stadium. He gave up one hit over one inning, and fired two strikeouts. |
Our View: Fuentes currently leads the majors in saves, passing Heath Bell (23). He has not blown a save since May 30.
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| Brian Fuentes worked a perfect ninth inning to pick up his 18th save of the season in the Angels 4-3 win over the Giants. He did not allow a base runner while striking out two batters. |
Our View: Yes, Fuentes has a 4.43 ERA, but his 18 saves leads the American League. The Angels bullpen as a whole has not performed up to expectations this season, but if they get it together, Fuentes could make a run at 50 saves this year.
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| Closer Brian Fuentes picked up his fifth save of the season on Wednesday, and he did so by working a clean ninth inning against the Orioles. Fuentes had allowed at least one hit in six straight outings, but he was spotless this time around. |
Our View: It's been way too long (April 6) since Fuentes worked without putting someone on base. Hopefully this is the start of a strong streak for the southpaw, as he has been disappointing this April.
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| Brian Fuentes looked shaky again in the ninth inning, but he was able to pick up his second save as the Angels beat the Red Sox 5-4 on Sunday. The left-hander allowed two hits and an earned run while striking out two in the effort. |
Our View: Fuentes has allowed seven base runners in three innings this season while striking out a total of three hitters. He still has the job for now, but Scot Shields and Jose Arredondo have been the better relievers in that bullpen to this point of the season.
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| Tonight's game between the Athletics and Angels has been postponed following the death of 22-year-old pitcher Nick Adenhart (car accident), according to the San Francisco Chronicle. |
Our View: A makeup date for the game is yet to be decided.
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| Brian Fuentes waited until his second appearance of the season to blow his first save with his new team. He allowed four hits, a walk, and three earned runs in Wednesday's 6-4 loss to the Athletics. |
Our View: It could be a rocky season for the southpaw if he does not start resembling his former self soon. The Angels have a strong bullpen and do not figure to let Fuentes blow many opportunities before replacing him.
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| Brian Fuentes tossed a perfect ninth inning as the Angels put away Oakland 3-0 on Monday. He threw eight of 13 pitches for strikes while getting each hitter he faced out. |
Our View: A lot of concerned has been tied to Fuentes' drop in velocity this spring, but he was still able to get it done tonight. The Angels have the type of team that will bring about plenty of save opportunities and if Fuentes can hold the closer's job all season, he will be a very valuable fantasy commodity.
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| Brian Fuentes gave up a ninth inning home run to Nick Hundley but managed to pick up the win as the Angels came back to beat the Padres 5-4 on Saturday. It was one of two hits allowed by the left-hander as he struck out two, walked none, and committed two errors. He gave up two runs, one earned, in his lone inning of work. |
Our View: Fuentes has not had a good spring and he'll take an 8.22 ERA away from his first spring with the Angels. His velocity is down and there has to be concern regarding how effective he can be with the game on the line. He lost his closer's job to Manny Corpas just two years ago, and its conceivable he does the same this season with Jose Arredondo waiting for his chance.
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| Brian Fuentes got knocked around on Tuesday, allowing five runs without completing an inning. Three hits, two walks and a home run ballooned his ERA to a monstrous 16.88. |
Our View: Perhaps it's the stiff back that affected his performance, but this isn't a good start to the spring for the Angels closer. He should get plenty of save opportunities for fantasy owners, assuming he doesn't lose his job due to ineffectiveness.
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| Brian Fuentes, who had been experiencing some back stiffness, threw a full bullpen session on Wednesday and should return to action in spring training in the near future, according to the Los Angeles Times. |
Our View: Fuentes remains entrenched in the Angels' closing role as the replacement to Francisco Rodriguez and, if the Angels are anything like last season, should get plenty of save opportunities.
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| Brian Fuentes is out of the World Baseball Classic due to tightness in his back, according to the LA Times. |
Our View: It is uncertain when he may be ready to return to the mound, but Fuentes should not be dropped on draft boards.
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| Brian Fuentes was knocked around by the South Africans on Wednesday, giving up three runs and three hits in only one inning. |
Our View: Despite today's outing Fuentes is a lock for the closer's role in LA and should see his numbers drastically improve now that he is out of Coors Field. A solid fantasy option.
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| Brian Fuentes will forgo playing in the first round of the World Baseball Classic, according to the Orange County Register. Fuentes cited concerns about being too far away from his family during the tournament's opening round, which takes place in Toronto. |
Our View: Fuentes, who is likely to assume the closer role as a result of Joe Nathan's withdrawal, will join Team USA for round two, which is to be played in Miami.
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| Closer Brian Fuentes allowed two hits over a scoreless inning of work Thursday in the Angels' 3-1 victory over the A's. |
Our View: Fuentes should benefit from the competition he receives while pitching for the U.S. in the upcoming World Baseball Classic, which begins March 5.
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| Brian Fuentes will represent the United States in the World Baseball Classic, according to Yahoo! Sports. |
Our View: Joe Nathan is expected to be the lead closer, but Fuentes gives the club a left-handed option.
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| According to Fox Sports.com, prior to signing with the Anaheim Angels, Brian Fuentes and his agent conducted discussions with the New York Yankees. "We had some serious talks," said Fuentes' agent, Rick Thurman." It didn't end up happening." |
Our View: Apparently, the Yankees were interested in paying Fuentes to serve as Mariano Rivera's setup man for two years before replacing the future Hall of Famer as the team's closer, assuming Rivera would retire at that time. Sources say the negotiations broke down because the Yankees were not willing to pay Fuentes a closer's salary to be an eighth inning guy.
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| Keith Law of ESPN.com writes that the signing of Brian Fuentes may make the Angels better off in the future than had they retained Francisco Rodriguez as the team's closer. |
Our View: Law believes Fuentes will benefit from the pitcher-friendliness of Angels Stadium. And though Fuentes throws from an unusually low arm angle, Law believes his past success against right-handed batters is no fluke and should continue.
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| According to ESPN.com's Buster Olney, closer Brian Fuentes' new two-year deal with the Angels will pay him $17.5 million, including $8.5 million in 2009. The deal also includes a $9 million club option for 2011 that becomes a vesting option if Fuentes finishes 55 games in 2010. |
Our View: We'll have to wait to see how the Angels handle their new high-priced closer. Should Fuentes struggle, it'll be interesting to see whether management decides to give a look to Jose Arredondo, who was projected to be the team's new closer until the Fuentes deal.
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| MLB.com reports that the Los Angeles Angels have agreed to a two-year deal with free-agent closer Brian Fuentes. Financial details of the deal were not disclosed. |
Our View: Fuentes, who recorded 30 saves last season for the Rockies, will be asked to fill the void left by former closer Francisco Rodriguez, who signed a free-agent deal with the New York Mets.
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| Brian Fuentes is now the top priority for the Angels after pulling the plug on the hope of retaining Mark Teixeira, according to the LA Times. |
Our View: Fuentes would be a good fit as the club attempts to replace record-setting closer Francisco Rodriguez. He would obviously be in position to nail down a high number of saves in 2009. Fuentes only allowed three homers last season despite playing his home games at launching pad Coors Field.
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| The L.A. Times reports that the Angels may use some of the money they had budgeted for Mark Teixeira to sign closer Brian Fuentes. |
Our View: The Angels claim that they are out of the Mark Teixeira sweepstakes which opens up a lot of their budget. Fuentes has said that the ANgels would be his No. 1 choice, but the Angels do have some young depth in their bullpen, despite losing Francisco Rodriguez to the Mets earlier in the offseason.
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| Buster Olney of ESPN believes that Brian Fuentes is not likely to get the three-year, $30 million deal that he covets, and is more likely to get something in the $15-18 million range. |
Our View: The Cardinals could once again rank as top contenders to land Fuentes, if his asking price comes down as Olney suggests.
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| The Cardinals are reportedly turning the page on Brian Fuentes, according to KSDK.com. St. Louis was discouraged after a lull following what the club believed was an aggressive offer. |
Our View: While the Cardinals aren't shutting the door on Fuentes, they'll certainly explore other options, potentially another starting pitcher depending on what they hear on injured starter Chris Carpenter. Fuentes' most likely landing spot will be Anaheim now, which he has previously stated is his top choice. The Angels, however, are still trying to reel in Mark Teixeira as their primary target.
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| The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports that the Cardinals are growing a bit impatient with free-agent closer Brian Fuentes after offering him a two-year deal believed to be worth around $18 million. "From my end, it's been a slow-moving process. It's a little bit frustrating," said Cardinals GM John Mozeliak. |
Our View: Fuentes is believed to want more annually than Kerry Wood got from Cleveland. He has also stated his first choice would be playing for the Angels.
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| Tim Brown of Yahoo! Sports believes the Brewers will pursue Brian Fuentes if they can unload outfielder Mike Cameron (and his salary) to the Yankees. |
Our View: The Angels will also target Fuentes if they cannot retain Mark Teixeira. Fuentes recently stated that he would like to play for the Angels.
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| Brian Fuentes told his hometown paper, the Merced (CA) Sun-Star, that he would prefer to play with the Angels. "Anaheim would be a great fit, being a California kid. That would be my first choice," the lefty reliever said. |
Our View: That likely won't endear him to fans of whichever team he winds up with (other than the Angels), but it is certainly understandable. Among the teams chasing Fuentes are the Angels, Tigers, Cardinals and Brewers.
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| The Nationals are interested in Brian Fuentes, according to the Washington Post. |
Our View: They are actively trying to improve their bullpen, and the prized free agent closer is on their radar. It remains to be seen if the Nationals are as serious as the Cardinals to acquire him.
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| The Cardinals' talks with Brian Fuentes slowed on Thursday, according to ESPN. Two unknown suitors have also entered the picture. |
Our View: Fuentes still may be out of the Cardinals' price range, so we'll have to see if it comes down. It's unlikely that St. Louis would give him the three-year deal at $33 million that he's been rumored to be looking for since the K-Rod signing.
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| The Angels are considering making a run at Brian Fuentes after losing elite closer Francisco Rodriguez to the Mets, according to the Hot Stove Blog on MLB.com. |
Our View: The Angels would go with a combination of Scot Shields and Jose Arredondo if they do not add a closer, like Fuentes. The Cardinals are said to currently be the top contender for Fuentes, as skipper Tony LaRussa has marked him as a top priority.
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| MLB.com reports that Cardinals manager Tony La Russa made explicit on Wednesday what has been suspected for a while now: Brian Fuentes is St. Louis' top priority. He and the Cardinals met personally with Fuentes, and the skipper said there is definitely mutual interest. "From Day 1, he's been the guy that fit us the best," La Russa said. |
Our View: Fuentes lost the closer's job two seasons ago when the Rockies made the World Series but reclaimed it last season. He saved 30 games in 67 appearances and finished with a 2.73 ERA.
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| Using the logic the Brian Fuentes is not as good as Francisco Rodriguez, but better than Kerry Wood, Fox Sports has deduced that he will get a three-year deal for $33 million. However, they aren't sure who will give it to him. |
Our View: The Brewers, Cardinals, and Tigers all figure to be involved in negotiations for the left-handed closer.
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| The Brewers will likely become the top contender for Brian Fuentes after missing out on Francisco Rodriguez (Mets), according to BaseballProspectus.com. |
Our View: The team also lost CC Sabathia to the Yankees, so they have money to spend on Fuentes. The Angels may also pursue Fuentes to replace K-Rod.
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| The Cardinals are talking to Brian Fuentes' representatives, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. |
Our View: With K-Rod taking a lesser offer than he originally asked for, Fuentes could fall into the Cards' price range.
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| The Angels may go after Brian Fuentes to replace K-Rod if they fall short in signing their primary target of Mark Teixeira, according to Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports. |
Our View: The Angels contend just about every year, so we're certain that the club will make moves to improve their team for 2009, even if they can't do it with their first choice of Teixeira.
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| The Indians are hoping the Mets land Francisco Rodriguez so they can have a shot to sign Brian Fuentes for a favorable price, according to the NY Post. |
Our View: The Indians could also target JJ Putz of Seattle. It was previously believed the Mets would offer Fuentes a three-year deal for $30 million during the Winter Meetings.
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| Brian Fuentes will like be offered a three-year deal worth $30 million from the Mets during the Winter Meetings, according to ESPN's Buster Olney. |
Our View: The Mets are also planning to make offers to K-Rod and Kerry Wood with plans to sign whoever accepts their offer first.
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| Buster Olney of ESPN indicates there is belief within the Rockies' organization that closer Brian Fuentes could remain in Colorado on a multi-year deal. |
Our View: Fuentes was offered arbitration by the club, and they could deal Huston Street if he re-signs.
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| Free-agent closer Brian Fuentes was offered salary arbitration Monday by the Rockies, according to the AP. |
Our View: Fuentes is one of the hottest names in the free-agent market. Now that the Rockies have offered him arbitration, if another team signs him Colorado will receive draft picks.
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| The Indians are focusing on acquiring a closer and have talked to the agents of Brian Fuentes, Trevor Hoffman, and Jason Isringhausen, according to the Cleveland Plain Dealer. |
Our View: Fuentes is the hottest target among the mentioned closers, but any would be a solid upgrade for Cleveland.
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| Brian Fuentes is slated to meet the Mets, according to the Denver Post. |
Our View: The Mets feel his asking price of three years at $33 million is too high, but remain interested in him. Francisco Rodriguez, who is the prized closer of free agency, will meet with the Mets during the upcoming Winter Meetings.
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| Brian Fuentes is reportedly asking for three years at $10-to-11 million, according to the New York Daily News. The Mets are thinking that is a bit high, but are still interested in him. |
Our View: Fuentes may have trouble getting as much as he's looking for with such a large amount of closers on the market, either in free agency or on the trading block
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| The Mets will ink either Brian Fuentes or Francisco Rodriguez, according to Newsday. |
Our View: Which one among the two depends on the contract length and terms. The team may not want to give in on a fourth-year, which is believed to be less of an issue with Fuentes.
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| The New York Mets will start to make offers to potential closers this week, and despite heavy rumors that Francisco Rodriguez is the object of their desire, Brian Fuentes could also get an offer, according to New York Newsday. |
Our View: Fuentes will not likely command the years and dollars that K-Rod will, and he could prove to be similarly effective.
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| The Colorado Rockies are going to offer reliever Brian Fuentes arbitration, according to MLB.com. |
Our View: There is little chance that Fuentes will accept arbitration, and by offering it to Fuentes, who is a Type-A free agent, the team would get a top compensatory draft pick.
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| Brian Fuentes appears to be at the top of the Mets' wish list at closer, though they are also interested in Francisco Rodriguez and Kerry Wood, as well, according to MLB.com. The team is looking to fill its needs for a starting pitcher and a closer, with the offense not being a priority. |
Our View: Fuentes has reportedly offered his services to the Mets already for $44 million over four years. It wouldn't be a surprise at all if the team signs him to a similar deal.
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| Brian Fuentes reportedly offered his services to the Mets for $44 million over four years, according to the Rocky Mountain News. |
Our View: Executives with Cleveland and St. Louis indicated they would be interested only in a one-year or two-year deal for Fuentes.
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| The Denver Post reports that the Colorado Rockies have no interest in re-signing left-handed reliever Brian Fuentes. |
Our View: This is likely great news for Manny Corpas who figures to be the closer in 2009. He was excellent in that role in the final four months of 2007 and helped lead the team to the World Series.
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| Brian Fuentes has filed for free agency, according to MLB.com. |
Our View: Fuentes lost the closer job to Manny Corpas in 2007 but regained it in 2008 and by season's end proved to be effective while nailing down 30 saves, with a 1.10 WHIP. He should garner favorable interest on the free agent market among relievers.
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| The Mets are planning on targeting Brian Fuentes in the off-season, according to the NY Post. He will be looking for a three-year deal worth at least $36 million. |
Our View: He would be brought in to replace the injured Billy Wagner as the Mets' closer, and would come at a lower price than Francisco Rodriguez.
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| Free agent closer Brian Fuentes could end up securing a contract in the $11 million per season range, according to Jon Heyman of Sports Illustrated. Heyman went on to speculate that the Mets and Cardinals would appear to be nice fits for the talented lefty. |
Our View: With Francisco Rodriguez looking for a 5-year deal worth something like $75 million, Fuentes would appear to be a much cheaper option for team's in search of that shut down closer.
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| It has seemed that it was a foregone conclusion that the Rockies would not be able to resign Brian Fuentes but that might not be the case. GM Dan O'Dowd told the Denver Post, "on the surface it would seem like it would be a longshot to keep him, but that's something we are still talking about." |
Our View: Fuentes has had a good 2008, with 30 saves and and ERA of 2.73. Some believe that Fuentes will be the second-most coveted reliever behind Francisco Rodriguez.
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| Brian Fuentes protected a 1-0 lead in the ninth inning against the Padres on Wednesday for his 28th save of the season. He struck out two of the three hitters he faced. |
Our View: Most people expected Fuentes to be setting up Manny Corpas this season but he has emerged again as the Rockies' closer. He has used 2008 to re-establish himself as a reliable ninth inning guy. In 59.2 innings he has 76 strikeouts and a 2.41 ERA.
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| Brian Fuentes returned to the Rockies Friday night and was available to pitch against the Padres, according to the Rocky Mountain News. Fuentes had been placed on the bereavement list Tuesday but needed only the minimum three days.
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Our View: He was dealing with a health issue with his one-year-old son Giovanni, and Fuentes said he is doing fine. The Rockies' closer should be penciled back into lineups.
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| The Rockies had placed closer Brian Fuentes on waivers but a trade has become unlikely due to Fuentes being placed on the bereavement list. Players placed on the bereavement list can't pass through waivers. According to Foxsports.com Fuentes isn't eligible to come off the list until Friday and that will be too late for Fuentes to be traded and eligible for a team's post-season roster. |
Our View: The Rockies were asking for a large bounty for Fuentes before the trade deadline and now will hold onto their closer.
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| Rockies closer Brian Fuentes and outfielder Willy Taveras were placed on waivers as the team tries to gauge the interest level in them, according to the Denver Post. Anyone who claims him can then try to work out a deal with Denver. |
Our View: Teams have until August 31 to put players on their squads who will be part of their postseason rosters, so if it gets to September 1 and Fuentes is still a member of the Rockies, he will continue to accrue saves for fantasy teams the remainder of the year.
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| The Rockies placed Brian Fuentes on the bereavement list Tuesday. He can spend 3-7 days on the list. |
Our View: Manny Corpas is likely to handle the closing duties while Fuentes is gone.
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| Maybe Brian Fuentes will get traded after all. The Rockies have placed Fuentes on waivers, according to FOX Sports' Ken Rosenthal. If he is claimed (and he almost surely will be), the Rox will have 48 hours to work out a trade with the claiming team or teams. |
Our View: The Dodgers will have the first shot of any contending team at the reliever, though a team with a worse record could certainly claim him first.
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| According to the latest from MLB insider Ken Rosenthal, Brian Fuentes is expected to be put on waivers this week, according to MLBTradeRumors.com. |
Our View: Rosenthal warns there are reasons for the delay in listing the closer. The Rockies must be keen to see if they can do better in a trade than the two first round draft picks they get by keeping Fuentes, rumored to be of interest to several teams. But as they fall out of the playoff race, so does the hope of getting a deal done. Waivers is the last bastion of hope, so we'll track the situation.
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| Brian Fuentes earned save number 21 on Friday with a clean ninth inning against the Padres. |
Our View: Fuentes has converted eight straight save chances after a brief hiccup in late June, and has converted 15 of his last 16 opportunities. Fuentes has also been unscored upon in 13-straight appearances covering 13 innings.
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| The St. Louis Cardinals were making an attempt to acquire Rockies reliever Brian Fuentes, but balked when the price tag was said to be not only catching prospect Bryan Anderson, but a pitching prospect as well, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. |
Our View: Anderson is hitting a combined .336 with an OBP of .401 during his time in Double-A Springfield and Triple-A Memphis, and apparently moving him along with a pitcher was just too rich for the Cardinals blood.
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| Unless a team dramatically ups their offer for Brian Fuentes, the reliever will remain in Colorado, according to ESPN's Jayson Stark. |
Our View: A boatload of teams have been in on Fuentes, but it appears, at least at this point, that he's going nowhere.
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| Brian Fuentes picked up the 103rd save of his Rockies career on Wednesday an all-time Rockies record, according to MLB.com. "After coming off the mound thinking that I have more than anyone in the organization, it feels nice," Fuentes said. |
Our View: Whether or not he gets a chance to pick up number 104 is in doubt has his name continues to be one of the most talked about as we approach Thursday's trade deadline.
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| Brian Fuentes may or may not be dealt but the Rockies have informed teams that they can make one more round of proposals to pick up the lefty bullpen stalwart, according to the Rocky Mountain News. |
Our View: The top contenders seem to be the Cardinals, Red Sox, Mets, White Sox and Phillies. If traded, Fuentes could end up remaining a closer or slide into a setup role, so his remaining value this season is totally dependent on what team he ends up on.
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| The Rockies are willing to deal Brian Fuentes if they can land a young starting pitcher they can plug into the rotation immediately, according to the Rocky Mountain News. |
Our View: There are believed to be seven clubs interested in Fuentes, so at least one would likely be willing to deal a young pitcher to acquire his services.
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| Brian Fuentes made an eighth inning appearance on Monday night despite the Rockies trailing 8-4. He walked one and struck out two. |
Our View: Were the Rockies showcasing the lefty reliever? The Rockies were thought to be pulling out of trade talks but this is a somewhat peculiar move. They may also have simply been getting him some work. They had already used four pitchers in the game and he had not thrown in four nights.
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| A major-league executive stated to The Denver Post on Thursday that there doesn't seem to be any movement by the Rockies to trade Brian Fuentes at this time. |
Our View: The Cardinals, Angels, Rays, Phillies, and Yankees remain interested in acquiring his services. The Rockies stated that the next few games will determine whether they will be buyers or sellers when the trade deadline draws closer. The club won't be rushed into any trade involving Fuentes, and there is no sense of urgency to deal him right now. The Rockies are currently six games back in the NL West, with 59 games to go in the regular season.
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| Brian Fuentes earned his 17th save of the season with a scoreless ninth inning. |
Our View: Though the team has said that Manny Corpas will likely be the pitcher they turn to in the ninth inning if Fuentes is traded, Taylor Buccholz worked the eighth inning today and continues to be the more effective hurler.
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| During last weekend, the Phillies, Red Sox, Tigers, Diamondbacks, and Angels all had scouts assigned to watch Brian Fuentes, according to the Rocky Mountain News. The Yankees and Rays have scouts to track him during the series with the Dodgers too, but no concrete offer has been made for the coveted reliever as of yet. |
Our View: Fuentes will likely serve as a setup man if he is dealt to any of the aforementioned clubs, which will compromise his fantasy value.
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| Reliever Brian Fuentes picked up the save for the Colorado Rockies in their 5-2 victory over Pittsburgh. It was his sixteenth save of the year, and teams looking to acquire his services were likely impressed by his efficient 10 pitch inning that saw him throw seven strikes. |
Our View: Fuentes struck out one hitter, lowered his ERA to 3.23 and remains the most coveted reliever on the market. Fantasy owners should enjoy the saves while he is getting them, because it is possible he will become a set-up man should he be traded.
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| Reports from beat reporters indicate the Rockies, seeking the right deal for reliever Brian Fuentes , may have been hurt by Oakland sending starter Joe Blanton to Philadelphia for a bevy of top prospects, according to MLB.com. |
Our View: The Rockies had engaged in serious talks with the Phillies for some of those names, and it is now fair to suggest any deal is on the rocks (pun intended). The rumor mill suggests there are still interested parties, but it sounds like the Rockies aren't feeling as happy about those potential swaps as any they might have reached with Philly. We'll keep you posted as further events unfold.
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| Brian Fuentes pitched a perfect ninth inning and recorded three strikeouts on Thursday against the Pirates. It was his 15th save of the season and 100th of his career. |
Our View: Furntes is simply driving up his asking price which is getting steep.
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| Brian Fuentes is in the zone right now as he has not allowed a hit or a walk over his last five innings of work, according to the Rocky Mountain News. He has fired eight strikeouts over that span as well. |
Our View: Fuentes is on several clubs' radar as the July 31 trade deadline draws closer, and his current hot streak will add to his value.
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| Brian Fuentes is on the Phillies radar, and they are trying to acquire him, according to Philly.com. The Rockies asked for either righthander Carlos Carrasco or catcher Lou Marson, both of whom are in Double-A, but the Phillies declined. |
Our View: Fuentes going to the Phillies would mean he would not be a closer, as Brad Lidge has that gig locked up. That would mean his fantasy value takes a hit, unless you play in leagues that use holds as a statistic.
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| Brian Fuentes is said to be a top target of the first place Rays, but he stated that he would like to play with the Yankees, according to the NY Post. Fuentes commented, "I've never played in Yankee Stadium. I have no preference, but putting on the pinstripes would be something special by itself."
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Our View: Fuentes wouldn't push Mariano Rivera for save opportunities, and would hold more value as insurance for Troy Percival in Tampa Bay.
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| The Rays indicated they are prepared to make the most aggressive play for Rockies' closer Brian Fuentes, according to the Denver Post. |
Our View: The Rays are currently in first place in the AL East, and could use some protection for ailing closer Troy Percival. The Rockies are said be interested in Rays' pitching prospects Wade Davis and Jeremy Hellickson.
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| The Colorado Rockies are reporting the Tampa Bay Rays are making a serious push to trade for reliever Brian Fuentes , according to the Rocky Mountain News. |
Our View: Tampa Bay’s interest in Fuentes picked up Tuesday in light of the expectation that closer Troy Percival will return to the disabled list after aggravating the left hamstring that forced him on the disabled list. The Rays are looking for a lefty to work late innings, and to provide late-inning protection for Percival in their bid to claim a postseason bid for the first time ever.
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| Brian Fuentes trade rumors continue to heat up as the team and the closer have failed to come to terms on a long-term contract extension, according to the Denver Post. |
Our View: Fuentes is scheduled to become a free agent after this season, and with all the money the team in vested in Manny Corpas, it remains to be seen if the Rockies would be interested in meeting the demands of Fuentes. The Cardinals, Phillies, Athletics, Red Sox, Mets and Yankees are all said to be interested. Chances are that if he goes to any of those teams he will serve as a setup man, so you might consider moving him before his value plummets.
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| Brian Fuentes pitched a scoreless ninth inning to secure Jorge De La Rosa's second victory, and earn his 13th save of the season. |
Our View: Fuentes might be the most painful closer in the league to watch. He rarely looks to be in control and often finds himself behind in the count with runners on base.
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| Brian Fuentes has taken over the closers role in Colorado from Manny Corpas and not looked back, according to MLB.com. "I'm very confident that I'm going to get the job done, but I try not to be borderline cocky," Fuentes said. |
Our View: Fuentes, who has been rumored to potentially be on the move before the trade deadline, has 11 saves and a 2.20 ERA since taking back the closers role on April 24th marking him, yet again, as one of the better second shelf closers in the National League.
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| Once again the Denver Post is waving the white flag for the Colorado Rockies. The paper has been doing their own scouting work on league organizational scouts. The report notes that Yankee scouts have not turned up at a Rockies game recently, an indication that while the paper has given up all hope on the last place team (22-38) the front office hasn't issues a "For Sale" sign on their players yet. Closer Brian Fuentes is an obvious target for a New York team looking for an eighth-inning upgrade over Kyle Farnsworth. |
Our View: And of course what potential target of the Yankees be without throwing the Red Sox into the mix. The report notes that Boston is also monitoring Fuentes' situation, but there have been no trade talks as of yet.
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| Brian Fuentes could be on the Yankees' radar, according to the Denver Post. |
Our View: The Yankees have admired Fuentes for years, and they need a stable setup man to replace Joba Chamberlain in the bullpen. Fuentes is 0-2 this season over 22.2 innings, with a 2.78 ERA and 1.19 WHIP, with six saves.
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| Brian Fuentes picked up his sixth save of the season on Monday night in the Rockies 4-3 victory over the Giants. |
Our View: This save was possible because Fuentes picked off pinch runner Eugenio Velez on an attempted steal. If you are a Manny Corpas owner, you might have to wait a long while for Fuentes to give up the closers role.
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| Brian Fuentes worked the ninth for his fifth save in seven chances and the Colorado Rockies scored a 3-2 victory over the Minnesota Twins on Saturday night. |
Our View: It wasn't easy for Fuentes. He gave up a leadoff single to Delmon Young and a two-out walk to Harris before getting Mike Lamb to swing and miss to end the game.
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| Brian Fuentes took all of one appearance to cement his new standing as the team's closer as he pitched a perfect ninth inning to pick up his first save of the season. |
Our View: Fuentes is obviously no stranger to the role with at least 20 saves in each of the last three seasons, so if he continues to succeed he may not find himself back in the setup role any time soon.
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| Brian Fuentes has unseated Manny Corpas as the Rockies' closer, according to the Denver Post. Corpas has blown four save chances, including three straight, which led to his demotion today. |
Our View: Manager Clint Hurdle believes Fuentes is close to being as effective as he ever was with the exception of his changeup, which still needs some adjustment. Fuentes holds a 1.18 WHIP over 11 innings, with eight strikeouts. Fuentes should be targeted in your league if available, especially if you are stuck with Corpas.
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| Brian Fuentes told MLB.com Sunday concerning his setup role. "My job is to come in and get guys out. I've been saying that from day one when I was closing, when I was setting up and even my whole career. So whatever role they plan on using me in is totally up to them. I'm their pawn. Let me know what you want me to do, and I'll do it," said Fuentes. The ex-closer was injured last year, replaced by Manny Corpas, and never regained his ninth inning status. The roles remain the same entering Spring Training. |
Our View:
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| The Rockies may not have won the World Series, but they did win their arbitration case with reliever Brian Fuentes. Fuentes will receive a $5.05 million salary this year instead of the $6.5 million he requested, according to the AP. |
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| One reliever that's expected to be on the trade market this offseason is Brian Fuentes. His future may be tied to whether or not the Rockies feel 2007 first-round pick Casey Weathers is ready for the big leagues, according to the Denver Post. When he was drafted, Weathers was thought to be the pitcher closest to major-league ready, and he could end up being the setup man for Manny Corpas next year. |
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| Brian Fuentes (back) was activated from the 15-day disabled list before Tuesday night's series opener at San Diego, as expected, the AP reports. To make room on the roster, Tim Harikkala was designated for assignment. Fuentes got into the game for some work, allowing two baserunners and striking out two batters over two-thirds of an inning. It's not clear if and when the Rockies will give Fuentes a chance to close; Manny Corpas has been solid in that role while Fuentes has been hurt. |
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| Brian Fuentes is expected to be activated from the DL today, according to the Rocky Mountain News. He has been sidelined with a strained lat. Manager Clint Hurdle has made it clear that he will re-insert Fuentes into the closer role, but it's unclear if that will happen right away. |
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| Brian Fuentes will begin a rehab assignment at Triple-A Colorado Springs on Friday, starting a game against Tacoma. He will be re-evaluated on Saturday and is scheduled to pitch again for Colorado Springs out of the bullpen on Sunday, according to the Denver Post. Fuentes is coming back from a strained lat. |
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| Brian Fuentes recovered well from a simulated game Tuesday, leaving him in line to begin a rehab assignment later this week. "I am not getting antsy, I have been antsy the whole time," Fuentes said in the Denver Post. "I am feeling better." Fuentes hasn't pitched since July 3 because of a strained lat muscle underneath his left arm. He won't take over the closer role immediately upon his return, but he is expected to eventually get his job back. |
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| Brian Fuentes threw off a mound for the first time Tuesday since being placed on the DL on July 13 with a strained lateral, according to the AP. "Brian threw 25 pitches, threw every pitch and threw them well," manager Clint Hurdle said. "We'll decide our next step on Wednesday." |
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| Brian Fuentes, out with a strained left lateral, threw 25 pitches in the bullpen Sunday and said his shoulder felt fine, according to the AP. He's scheduled to throw a simulated game on Tuesday. It's still unclear when Fuentes will be ready to rejoin the Rockies, but manager Clint Hurdle has already stated that Fuentes will move back into the closer role upon his return. |
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| Brian Fuentes, who worked a bullpen session Wednesday, will toss another session on Saturday, according to the AP. The Rockies had hoped he'd be ready to face batters over the weekend, so it appears he still has a little more work to do first. Fuentes is recovering from a strained lat. |
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| Brian Fuentes, out since July 4 with a strained muscle under his left armpit, threw a bullpen session Wednesday. He is scheduled to be evaluated today, and the Rockies hope he will be able to throw to hitters this weekend and possibly go on a rehab assignment next week, according to the Rocky Mountain News. Fuentes is expected to move back into the closer role upon his return. |
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| Brian Fuentes was able to stretch out his Friday long-toss session to about 120 feet. He's slated to do some more long-toss Saturday, as well as throw on flat ground from the regulation distance of 60 feet, six inches, according to the Rocky Mountain News. Recovering from a strained lat, Fuentes should begin a rehab assignment sometime soon, though no date has been set for his activation from the disabled list. |
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| Brian Fuentes made progress by playing catch from about 90 feet before Thursday's game. The next step will be a rehab assignment, but one has not been scheduled yet. "We'll know more (Friday). We'll wait and see how he feels," manager Clint Hurdle told the Denver Post. |
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| Brian Fuentes, on the DL with a strained lat, is expected to play long toss today, according to the Rocky Mountain News. It's unclear when he'll be able to throw off a mound. |
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| There is still no timetable for the return of Brian Fuentes from the disabled list, according to the AP. "The guy's not throwing off a mound," manager Clint Hurdle said. Fuentes, who has been out since July 3 with a strained muscle on his left side, will need a rehab assignment before returning. |
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| Brian Fuentes had hoped to be activated from the disabled list on Thursday, but that wasn't the case. "He will not be activated today. He's not ready to pitch at this level," manager Clint Hurdle told the AP. "It doesn't look like it will happen this weekend. We're not sure it's a delay. We had a target date -- and we didn't meet that." Semantics aside, Fuentes didn't come off the DL the first day he was eligible to return, and it appears he won't get into a game until sometime next week. |
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| Brian Fuentes will be activated from the DL today, according to the Denver Post. Fuentes has been out with a strained lat. The lefty will attempt to work his way back into the closer role. |
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| Brian Fuentes could be ready to come off the disabled list in time for the Rockies' series with the Nats which begins on Thursday. He's slated to toss a bullpen session Saturday and head out soon for a brief rehab assignment, according to the Rocky Mountain News. The club placed him on the DL Friday due to his strained lat. The injury doesn't appear to be serious, and it looks like he should be back in the mix within a week or so. |
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| The Rockies placed Brian Fuentes on the DL Friday due to a mild strain of his left latissiumus dorsi muscle. Fuentes is 0-4 with a 4.06 ERA and 20 saves in 40 appearances this year and has recently lost his closer gig. He'll be replaced on the roster by utilityman Omar Quintanilla, according to SportsTicker. |
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| Brian Fuentes worked up a healthy sweat throwing a side session Thursday afternoon, but how soon the former closer will be healthy enough to pitch in a game remains a question mark, the Denver Post reports. Fuentes was scheduled to travel with the Rockies as they begin a 10-game road trip Friday in Milwaukee, but there is still a chance he could go on the 15-day disabled list. Fuentes declined comment, saying he had to get treatment on his strained left lat muscle. |
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| Brian Fuentes will not take part in the All-Star game next week. He tweaked his lat during last Sunday's game and was extra sore after Tuesday's outing, according to the Denver Post. "I thought I'd give it a day and I came back the next day and it was still sore," Fuentes said. "So, we're just day-to-day right now." With a good week off, he should be ready after the break, but you'll want to check back for updates once he's re-examined next week. |
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| Brian Fuentes has been pulled from the closer's role after blowing four consecutive save opportunities this week, including walk-off homers in the last two games in Houston, the AP reports. Manager Clint Hurdle said he'll still use Fuentes out of the bullpen. "Just try to get him out of the spotlight, off the burner," Hurdle said. Manny Corpas, LaTroy Hawkins and Jorge Julio were the most likely relievers to take over Fuentes' role, and all signs point to this being a temporary demotion. |
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| Brian Fuentes will not be with the Rockies until Sunday so he can attend the funeral of his grandmother, according to the AP. "While he's gone, the closer role will be a situational thing," manager Clint Hurdle said. |
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